TrueType Fonts in Pattern Editor *and* PCB Layout

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dostr63
Posts: 21
Joined: 14 Jun 2018, 16:30

TrueType Fonts in Pattern Editor *and* PCB Layout

#1 Post by dostr63 » 30 Oct 2024, 17:34

Hi - I'm getting a difference in behaviour between DipTrace 4.3.0.6 and 5.0.0.1

(Extra Info - this also affects an already-completed PCB design, opened in PCB Editor. Fonts appear correctly in 4.3.0.6, but changed to a default font in 5.0.0.1 - this is enough of a show-stopper for me to revert to the older version for now)

In my user patterns library I have various silk-screen boiler-plates for PCB's.
Some of them use installed fonts (such as Google's Comfortaa font).

In 4.3.0.6, if I select an already-created-and-placed piece of font, right-click, select properties, then click on the Font Settings... button - then sometimes everything is correct - and sometimes the font-settings box is blank / empty.
However the font is still rendered correctly, and the font size is displayed correctly in the settings box.

In 5.0.0.1 - if I look at the same already-made library part - then the font is *not* rendered correctly (it appears to fallback on a default), and the font-name, and font-size in the font settings dialog is also incorrect.
I've tried this both on MacOS Sequoia, and Ubuntu 22.04

On MacOS, the font defaults to @Apple LiSung Regular 6 point (should be Comfortaa Regular 24 point)
On Ubuntu, the font defaults to @Droid Sans Fallback Regular 6 point (should be Comfortaa Regular 24 point).

This looks to be a very minor bug in 4.3.0.6 (the font setting doesn't appear in the font dialog - but is still remembered / rendered correctly) - that has become more of an issue in 5.0.0.1 (it is isn't remembered / rendered correctly)

Oddly - it doesn't affect *every* piece of text in a patterns-library object - and I can't quite see a pattern to when it is affected, and when it isn't.
These object have been edited multiple times - so possibly it's correct at first, and then forgotten after edits (or vice-versa)

(EXTRA INFO - if I go back into the patterns library in 4.3.06, and correct the font-settings box - on every instance of the font where the font name is missing - then re-open the the same patterns-library part in 5.0.0.1 - the font renders correctly.
It looks like the bug is a combination problem from 4.3.0.6 sometimes forgetting to populate the font-name field, and 5.0.0.1 treating a missing font-name field differently)

1. Question - is this likely to only affect 'legacy' use of fonts in library parts brought over from 4.3.0.6? If I make new versions of the parts, are they likely to be OK? Or am I better going back to 4.3.06 for the time being?

This could lead to expensive mistakes, if I get PCB's fabricated - and the fonts are not what was wanted by my clients - I would have to absorb the cost of my mistake!

Alex
Technical Support
Posts: 3987
Joined: 14 Jun 2010, 10:43

Re: TrueType Fonts in Pattern Editor *and* PCB Layout

#2 Post by Alex » 01 Nov 2024, 06:36

Thank you for the report, we will investigate it.
Could you send pattern library where text with custom font is used. It may be useful for testing.
I can't say what version to use until the issue is resolved but I recommend to verify Gerber files before sending to manufacturing. What you see in Gerber is what you'll get on boards.

dostr63
Posts: 21
Joined: 14 Jun 2018, 16:30

Re: TrueType Fonts in Pattern Editor *and* PCB Layout

#3 Post by dostr63 » 03 Nov 2024, 21:59

Hi - attached DipTrace lib has a single pattern in it "Z-RAY Think Radio Arial MT Bold".

1. Select (either of) the "Think Radio" text.
2. Right-click and select "properties".
3. Select "Font Settings..".
4. Font selection box (top left) is blank, but should read "Arial Rounded MT"
5. Note that if the same steps are performed on the "Z-RAY" text, it correctly shows "BUNGEE OUTLINE" in the font selection box.

This is *sometimes* resulting in the actual text in PCB layout (and the Gerbers) not being correct.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't - and I can't quite see a pattern to it. Possibly something is changing when library patterns are duplicated.

(I notice, however, that in the pattern library - by selecting the same text, right-clicking and selecting "Fonts..." directly, that DipTrace *does* correctly display the font type)
Attachments
2024_11_03_diptrace_v_5_0_0_1_true_type_bug.lib
(3.6 KiB) Downloaded 38 times

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